The Norman Conquest of 1066

I have to admit, I've been a bit behind when it comes to posting research!  But here's a brief snippet of info I uncovered...

On the fifth of January 1066, King Edward ("The Confessor") of England died.  Historically speaking, this is a very significant piece of information.  Not only was Edward a king (and therefore a significant person to begin with), but he had no heirs with a concrete claim to the throne.  There were two men who could have become the new king.  These two contenders to the throne were William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold Godwinson.  Both had relations to Edward, and both had popular support.

But to understand why the Norman Conquest is significant, we have to go back in history a bit.  For almost its entire early history, England and its neighbours on the British Isles were being invaded by others.  There were many changes in who was in power, but it is important to realise that the Norman Conquest changed this.  After William of Normandy challenged Harold Godwinson and became the King of England, no other foreign powers have successfully invaded England.

It is therefore safe to assume that William the Conqueror's invasion positively influenced the security of England after this point.  Since 1066, England has been ruled entirely by its own countrymen.  So my thesis, essentially, focuses around the historical and cultural impact of William the Conqueror's invasion.  As it stands right now, my thesis reads, "The conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy, was historically significant because of its lasting effect on government, society, and England's independence as a nation."

sources.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/bayeux.htm
http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/story/introduction.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/background_01.shtml [Dr. Mike Ibeji]